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(11) | EP 0 849 691 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Method and apparatus for handling E-mail with animated representation |
| (57) An E-mail is sent or received with animated representation as if a pet were going
out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating the insides of both a sender's room
and a receiver's room for letter delivery and dispatch. Moreover, the electronic pet,
represented by animation, is virtually kept. Specifically, agent data updated responsive
to experiences acquired by the pet is sent as annexed papers to the E-mail, while
the receiver returns only pet data. Thus, an animation is represented on a GUI picture
(100) simulating the insides of both a sender's room and a receiver's room for imparting
an impression as if a pet (103) were going out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating
the insides of both the sender's room and the receiver's room for letter delivery
and dispatch. The agent data determining the behaviour of the electronic pet (103A)
are updated responsive to the mouse (22D) actuation by the user, such as caressing
the pet or serving refreshments to the pet, for varying the behaviour of the pet,
represented by animation, depending on the keeping environment. The operating states
of the mouse are reflected on representation of a pointing cursor (101). |